Center For Discovery is one of the largest behavioral health companies in the United States. In Spring 2016 Center For Discovery opened a new outpatient facility in Hacienda. In addition to treating adults and adolescents with Eating Disorders (including Anorexia, Bulimia, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, etc.), Center For Discovery's Pleasanton facility also offers a Binge Eating Disorder track founded on intuitive eating and mindfulness principles that focuses on the path to peace with food.

"Our core principles include Health At Every Size and All Foods Fit," says Brianna Robinson, Center For Discovery Bay Area Clinical Outreach Representative. "We create an inclusive environment where all bodies are safe and free from judgment by staff and peers."

Center For Discovery was founded by Dr. Craig Brown in Southern California more than 20 years ago. It provides residential and outpatient treatment for men and women with eating disorders. It also provides treatment for teens with eating disorders, with mental health disorders, and with substance abuse issues. It now has more than 60 treatment programs across 11 states and continues to grow. Each location is dedicated to one specialized treatment area.

"We saw a need in the East Bay region for an outpatient eating disorder program and found a perfect central spot in Pleasanton to establish a partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient facility," says Robinson.

Eating Disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illnesses, she notes. "Eating Disorders are a deadly disease that affects millions of men and women from all walks of life. We want people to know Center For Discovery is here as a local treatment resource with a team of dedicated, passionate professionals who want to help. Recovery is possible!"

The Pleasanton facility recently started a Mental Health Outpatient track for adolescents aged 11 to 17 that offers PHP/IOP (partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient) levels of treatment for mental issues separate from the Eating Disorder program schedule.

The Pleasanton treatment facility specializes in resolving underlying and co-occurring conditions that contribute to eating disorders using evidence-based treatment for trauma, self-harm, substance use, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. The facility's treatment approach offers a variety of benefits, including flexible treatment schedules, a customized dietary program, an Exposure Response Prevention dietary experience, age-specific treatment, family-centered programming, and ongoing support options.

"We are in-network with all major insurances," says Robinson. "We also contract with the counties and can do single-case agreements. For those with no insurance options we also offer a scholarship program. In 2016 alone, Discovery gave over $2.6 million worth of scholarship treatment."

Center For Discovery is proud to sponsor any local organization that promotes recovery in the behavioral health department such as suicide prevention walks and body positive events, according to Robinson. The facility also does free in-service trainings on eating disorders for organizations, medical group practices, schools, etc.

"We want to make treatment accessible to everyone who needs or wants it," says Robinson, who shared a letter from a recent patient who wrote, "Thank you for showing me that I'm capable of living a happy and healthy life; thank you for showing me that I had the tools all along. For the first time in my life, I am genuinely hopeful."

Staff at the Center For Discovery facility at Hacienda includes a program director, primary therapist, registered dietitian, and facility coordinator. There are also multiple on-call/part-time therapists who interact with clients daily, as well as a psychiatrist and a physician who also meet with clients each week.

For more information about Center For Discovery or to take a free eating disorder/mental health evaluation, please visit centerfordiscovery.com. For admissions, please call 866-482-3976.